Seattle Mariners

First day musings by Felix Hernandez at spring training presents an issue for the Mariners. If their one-time ace isn’t willing to make accommodations to his age and new status as middle-of-the-rotation guy, that’s going to be a problem for opening day and beyond.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said they will use a six-man rotation “at some time this year.” So what does that mean for a rotation that figures to include Felix Hernandez, James Paxton, Mike Leake, Erasmo Ramirez and either Marco Gonzales, Ariel Miranda or Andrew Moore?

With Mike Zunino locked as the team’s starting catcher after a breakout campaign to end the 2017 season, that leaves the Mariners looking at Mike Marjama, David Freitas and Tuffy Gosewisch for the backup role — their first time in two years not having a veteran option.

Their headline addition staff this offseason was hard-throwing reliever Juan Nicasio to go with Edwin Diaz, Nick Vincent and David Phelps in the back-end of the bullpen. Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said their likely to go with 13 pitchers and at-time a six-man rotation to cater to a new brand of basball.

Kyle Seager is “working his tail off” to improve off a sluggish 2017 season, Jean Segura should be hitting his prime and Robinson Cano is 35 years old. All while the Mariners hope to find some stability at first base. Here’s a preview of the 2018 infield entering spring training.

A center fielder who has never played there? And three others coming off rookie seasons? Will a combination of Dee Gordon, Mitch Haniger, Ben Gamel and Guillermo Heredia make outfield play a team strength or Mariners weakness?

After a Seattle man ripped the bat off the Ken Griffey Jr. statue outside Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners announced Thursday that a Tacoma sculptural design and art foundry will repair it this weekend.

Jerry Dipoto says, sure, the Houston Astros are dominant. But outside of them no other team in the American League West has a rotation that compares to the one the Seattle Mariners have. Is a gauntlet of Felix Hernandez, James Paxton, Mike Leake, Erasmo Ramirez and Marco Gonzales good enough?

In a vague Instagram post on Wednesday morning, Nelson Cruz posted a video of him fielding a ground ball at first base with the message “Versatility is important.” He tagged the Seattle Mariners’ official Instagram page in the post.

Mariners first baseman Ryon Healy and converted center fielder Dee Gordon spoke at Safeco Field on Thursday as part of the Mariners' pre-spring training luncheon. Gordon explained why he doesn't walk, and how he explained this to Scott Servais, and Healy says why the Mariners have postseason on their minds.

Edgar Martinez improved his Hall of Fame chances by acquiring 70.4 percent of the vote, but that was still short of the 75 percent needed for induction to baseball’s Hall of Fame. Odds are he’ll get over that threshold in 2019.

On Wednesday, baseball announces its 2018 Hall of Fame class. Former Mariners DH Edgar Martinez is close to getting in but may have to wait until next year – his last on the ballot – to finally reach Cooperstown.

Martinez, in his ninth year on the ballot, received 70.4 percent of the votes, falling short of the 75 percent needed to be included in baseball’s 2018 Hall of Fame class. The good news? The last eight players to finish in the 70-74 percent range reached induction the following year.

Mariners 2017 commercials: "Behind-the-Scenes Bloopers"

Mariners 2017 commercials: "Beyond the Flip"

Happy birthday, Leonys

Mariners first baseman Ryon Healy and converted center fielder Dee Gordon spoke at Safeco Field on Thursday as part of the Mariners' pre-spring training luncheon. Gordon explained why he doesn't walk, and how he explained this to Scott Servais, and Healy says why the Mariners have postseason on their minds.